ORIGIN

BaT Exclusive: Special Equipment 1955 Jaguar XK140

1/15/2013 Update: This Jaguar has been sold.

From 1/14/2013:

This 1955 Jaguar XK140 Fixed Head Coupe is a factory documented Special Equipment (“SE”) model that was purchased by the current seller in 2011 from the son of the original owner, both of whom had had the car in California since new. After 56 years with one family, the car had faded original paint and some sun damage to the interior, but was still a remarkably straight, dry, and original black-plate car according to the seller (himself a notable SCM contributor, author, and collector). Upon arrival at the car’s new home in Wisconsin, it was decided that a sympathetic restoration in original Pastel Blue and Dark Blue leather would be carried out by the seller’s Pebble-Beach-level restoration shop. The car was completed as a keeper, and was gifted to the seller’s father, but the car is now too nice for him and he is uncomfortable driving it, so it is being sold. It is available in Port Washington, Wisconsin for $125k.

The quality of the fit and finish on this car is something the seller is very proud of. He says that many hours were spent perfecting panel fit and flatness, as well as how everything operates. The doors shut with a perfect, light “click” that is almost never found in restored cars. The Pastel Blue paint is spot-on accurate, perfectly tinted to match the undisturbed areas of the car’s original paint under trim and in other hidden areas. The chrome is either flawless original or re-chromed original parts from this car – no reproduction or replacement junk from India.

The Heritage Certificate above verifies the matching numbers as well as the SE designation and California delivery. The seller gave us a terrific description of the car, so below we give you his exact words describing the interior, mechanicals, and reason for selling. We think that it is great to get the story from the owner’s mouth, something you will never get when buying one of these at a major auction house. Take a look.

Here the seller describes the interior:

“The interior is a work of art, with all correct materials sourced from the UK as needed. Speaking to how good the car was to start with, the wood is all original and refinished by hand in our woodshop and the carpet on the transmission hump is original. You don’t see many XKs with original wood and carpet. Cosmetically there is not a finer XK on the market, period, according to the seller. The paint is of Pebble Beach quality; something rarely found on cars under $500,000 due to the thousands of hours needed to accomplish this level. It really needs to be seen in person to fully appreciate it. Inspections of all aspects are naturally encouraged.”

Mechanically the car has been refurbished from end to end while maintaining its great original integrity. The seller describes his work as the following:

“The engine was disassembled, inspected, and found to be virtually like new. A new timing chain tensioner and guides were installed, as well as an XK’s Unlimited tappet guide hold down set for good measure, then everything was detailed, set to spec, resealed, and tuned. A new stainless steel correct dual exhaust is fitted. All ancillary systems have been restored. The original transmission has never been rebuilt and works flawlessly. All the brakes and brake hydraulics are new, as is the cooling system, including the original radiator being rebuilt with a concours-correct original style core. Tires are new, proper, and extremely costly Avon Road Speeds. Vintage Koni shocks calm oscillations. The original Dunlop spare and all tools are in the trunk.”

He goes on to say that the car “drives like, well, the incredibly original car it is. Which is to say like new.”

And his parting words:

“Why is it for sale? I restored the car for my dad and simply got carried away and made it too nice. So nice he is uncomfortable driving it. He is right; it is a work of art. However, this does create an opportunity for the next owner to purchase it for less than the restoration costs alone. Anybody with a solid knowledge of XK Jags is aware of the impostors that flood the market claiming to be great cars. This car’s combination of being a true Special Equipment car, in the best color combination, with an impossible to duplicate owner history and six-figure plus refurbishment done as a labor of love and not in preparation for an auction or profitable “flip” certainly make it the exception rather than the rule in the world of XKs.”